Heritage Cases

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park occupies an area of approximately 358,534 ha comprising fifteen ecosystems and a number of notable and diverse landscapes (Figure 1 in Appendix 3). In 2000, iSimangaliso was proclaimed a World Heritage site in terms of the World Heritage Convention Act, 1999 (Act 49 of 1999), an Act that incorporated the World Heritage Convention into South African legislation. It is under this Act that the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority has prepared this Integrated Management Plan (IMP). The IMP is also aligned with related legislation, notably relevant provisions of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act 18 of 1998), the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004), National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act 57 of 2003) and the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999). The World Heritage Convention Act provides a fundamental commitment to the protection, conservation, preservation and presentation of World Heritage values, with a strong emphasis on local economic development. This balance is appropriate in the South African context in which high levels of poverty necessitate an approach that optimises the economic potential of World Heritage sites without compromising their natural and cultural integrity. Indeed, in the current context of changing demographics and climate, growing inequalities, diminishing resources, and growing threats to heritage, there is a need to view conservation objectives, including those promoted by the World Heritage Convention, within a broader range of economic, social and environmental values and needs encompassed in the concept of sustainable development. In this regard, State Parties need to establish an appropriate balance between conservation, sustainability and development, so that World Heritage properties can be protected through appropriate activities contributing to the social and economic development, and the quality of life of communities. However, notably, this balance is not an equal one: in order to ensure World Heritage values are not compromised, conservation objectives need to be foremost, with the emphasis on ‘development for conservation’. In this context, economic empowerment and job creation, through appropriate tourism development, are necessary to achieve conservation goals. The purpose of the IMP is to guide this balance. This IMP is a five year strategic management plan for the period 2017 – 2021. As such, it builds upon the 2011 – 2016 IMP, and strives to integrate conservation, tourism development, and the local economic development of historically disadvantaged communities in and adjacent to iSimangaliso. 361 documents were used to inform the IMP. Name iSimangaliso Wetland Park Location KwaZulu-Natal Extent 358,534 ha District Municipalities Umkhanyakude District Municipality uThungulu District Municipality Neighbouring Municipalities Mtubatuba Local Municipality Big 5 False Bay Local Municipality Jozini Local Municipality uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality uMfolozi Local Municipality International Status, Agreements and Obligations UNESCO World Heritage Convention Ramsar Convention